We woke to heavy rain and low cloud on the one day when we really didn’t want either. We were heading off on a cruise down the Li River, with its limestone karst scenery. As the boat was departing the rain was bucketing down and visibility was close to zero. As we entered the area of interest the rain stopped, the cloud lifted somewhat and we were left in a magically fairyland of wispy cloud and gigantic formations. Words could never do this place justice, and I doubt my photos will either. With all the recent rain the river was high and flowing quickly. The 4 hour trip took only 3 hours, with the boat going sideways at times, often close, very lose, to rocky cliffs.

In Yang Shou we hired bikes and rode out of the city into the countryside. Rice paddies, market gardens, water buffalo working the fields, and the Hunters on 1950’s vintage bicycles peddling along a country road beside the river, with towering karst formations all around. This was a ‘pinch yourself – is this really happening’ moment.

Next stop was a coffee and ice-cream in a side street bookshop. Once again, it could have been a scene from a movie. While Carol, Kate and James did some shopping, I climbed a nearby formation in search of a geocache – my first in China. At the top, I was talking to an American couple and their guide. The guide had a friend was visiting Australia who had sent him some photos that day. As the guide was showing the Americans the photos I said ‘That looks very similar to where I live’. Next photo was a sign reading “Hyam’s Beach, Jervis Bay”. Small world.

Dinner – best one so far! – then the ‘Impressions’ show, a 600 cast show on water, with a natural backdrop of the karst formations lit up. The show was produced by the same person who designed the 2008 Beijing Olympic opening ceremony. Wow.

On the drive back to Guilin the rain started again. Some days you just get lucky with the weather.